The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1887-03-26
CASTLE ETTRICK.
An Old Soldiers Love
Story.
ICONTINuED. ]


passioned speech of Percy's there was 81
lence between the two men. They were
making their way across the bridge that
leads from one platform to the other. The
Colonel had forgotten that he was cold
forgotten that he was hungry.
Suddenly be remembered where he was
stopped, and laid his hand on Percy's arm.
Does Miss Morrison expect you?" he said,
have you written"
Certainly not; am 10 fool. She left
Castle Ettrick to prevent me from speaking.
! am convinced of it. She would go away
again. She would do anything rather than
vex my people. But | hope to make her
see that she is wrong"
"You will fail, Percy. / know her. She
viii never run counter TO your mothers
wishes
"If l find out that she loves me, I will
gain my mothers consent.
Girls have wonderful courage. She may
hide her feelings from you"
Il think | should know if / saw her.
However, there Is no saying. Colonel,
said the poor young fellow pitifully, give
me your advice"
my advice-my strong advice-is that
YOU come back to Ettrick. Wait moment,
Percy. Keep your Impotence till you hear
what l have to say. / have seen Lefty: l
have seen some of her friends. / may tell
you in confidence that her position is bet
ter than any of us thoUght-different alto
gether, in fact. One moment Hear me
out, if Won can. have been actually sent
AS a messenger by her friends TO lay GER
tain proposals before your parents. tell
YOU plainly that they are generous, and
hope your father and Lady Flora will ac-
cept them. Now, judge for yourself. If
you went to her armed with your mothers
consent and approval, would she not be
more likely TO listen TO you:"
Il am sure she would"
Then why spoil your own chance Of
success by being in such q hurry? Come
back with me. Percy. Miss Morrison has
promised to remain where she is until | see
her again. Mrs. Morton, who seems good,
kind woman, is delighted to have her. In
any case, it is only the difference of a
few days"
o"Yeu would have to feel as / feel, to
know what that difference MEANS said
Percy, with deep sigh. But no doubt
you are right. l give in. When You are
In love, If you ever are
"Ah!" said the Colonel. with a smile,
my day for that kind of thing has gone
by. am content to play the part of the
elderly uncle now. And, he added, per-
great surprise over the deep interest he
took in his affairs, Il was in love with your
mother once. That is why | am so much
interested in you
Az Il fact, Percy was not extraordinarily
surprised by the interest which the Colonel
took in his love- affairs. 1t occupied a large
space in Lis own mind. and it seemed TO him,
tn, re ore, only natural that it should occupy
a large space in the mind of another. But
he took, as his manner was, gracefully this
scrap of ancient history, and relied more
than ever on the Colonels advice and as
sistunce.
When the down and up trains parted
company, Percy went north instead of
south. He took place in the compartment
which the Colonel and nis iruscihle travel
ing companion had occupied from London,
and that person, who had not been treated
well at Berwick fire had been blocked
by shivering nonentities, and tue best of
the provisions had been devoured vi bout
any foresight as to his prefeJ ences-was so
angry with the intrusion that he took him
self of to another carriage. This delighted
Percy, who was able to pour out his hopes
and fears, and his rapture of love and adj
miration, into the ears of the Colonel. They
had plenty of time for conversation, as the
snowfall and heavy atmosphere continued,
and their progress was lamentably slow.
Percy began to fear that his snort leave
would be over before he reached Castle Ell
trick.
At Edinburgh, however, matters improv-
ed little. The snow ceased to fall, and
the sun shone, and the Heavy bank of fog
lifted itself off the earth, and there was an
celebrating freshness in the air. They
arrived too late for any train on that day,
and We're obliged, curbing their impotence
rs best they could, to sleep at an hotel in
Edinburgh.